Reviews

Manhunt

Manhunt's over-the-topness comes in the execution system. By sneaking up behind an unsuspecting victim, Cash will see a three-pronged cursor pop up over their head. This cursor changes in color from white to orange to red indicating the level of intensity of the execution death-move. One of three canned brutal animations then takes place, and then you're thrown right back into the action. Bear in mind that while you're prepping to off someone, Cash is in a prone, highly vulnerable state.

And, if there's one thing that Cash can't deal with, it's multiple enemies attacking him at once. You'll learn early on in the game that fleeing combat and hiding and biding time is the single-most important element of gameplay Manhunt has to offer. It might sound a little slow-paced, but the level of tension and atmosphere achieved is incredible. Pick and choose your battles carefully if you want to make it through to the end.

Axe plus skull face equals cool.

Manhunt is a game that's equally well-suited to PC as well as PS2 and Xbox (it's completely absent on the poor GameCube). It's a difficult, challenging game that really takes advantage of the keyboard/mouse configuration offered by a PC, while retaining all of the console-style gameplay elements. Its mature themes are perfectly suited to sensible PC gamers, and in the end, Manhunt takes another step towards blending specific game genres and platforms together. Look past the gratuitous, fleshy outer casing and delve deep into the tight stealth/action gameplay provided. Manhunt delivers.